Pneumatic wheel



June 16, 1936. M. ci WHITED rPNEUIVIATIC WHEEL Filed Oct. l, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l w 16, H93. M. o. wl-uTl-:D

PNEUMATIC WHEEL Filed Oct. l, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 16,7. 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PNEUMATIC WHEEL Y Milo 0. whited, near Centralia, Wash. Application october 1, 1935, serial No.v 43,121

7 claims. (c1. 152-29) This invention relates to the class of tires and wheels and pertains particularly to an `improved. pneumatic wheel structure.

The primary object` of the present, invention is to provide an improved pneumatic wheel structure in which the air-'retaining casing is of novel construction and forms the sole means of carrying the air, thus doing away with the usual removable inner tube of the wheels at present in Another object of the invention isA to provide a novel pneumatic wheel structure iniwhich the tire casing has inwardly extending sidewalls which are gripped or compressed between opposing plate members which provide, in addition to a supporting means for `the tire casing, a hub structure for the reception of a carrying axle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pneumaticwheel structure having an annular casing with flat side walls eachcentrally apertured and opposing gripping plates between which said side walls are held and which provide a hub structure, and novel means for covering the securing elements by which the said'plates are joined together whereby the outside of the central portion of the wheel structure will have the appearance of an unbroken disk.

A still further object of the invention is to Vprovide in a wheel of the character described, a casing having a novel inner wall structure whereby the contacting surfaces are sealed against the passage of air therebetween whenV the wheel structure is assembled and whereby an opening formed by a puncturing element will be closed immediately upon the withdrawal of the element by the forcing together of the inner surface material under the infiuence of the internal air pressure.

Y The invention will be `best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings forming part' of this specification, with present `invention showing the same applied tol an axle.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of a portion of theV center of the wheel with theouter plate removed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the casing, same being on a reduced scale.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View showing the valve assembly.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view thru the central part of one plate member.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view thru the central part of another plate.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, Fig. 1 Villustrates the application of the present tire structure to a vehicle axle, the tire structure being shown in section. The axle is indicated by the numeral I and has upon it the usual brake drum 2 which has a hub portion 3 through which the tapered end of the axle extends.

The wheel structure embodying the invention consists of a casing which is indicated generally by the numeral 4. This comprises an annular portion 5 which is substantially circular in cross section but which is split upon its inner sidei constructed in the usual manner of making tire casings, with`the'exception` that the inner surface has a layer of pure gum rubber. This surface is indicated by the numeral 8 and it is preferably thickened over the portion of the casing adjacent the tread and over the inner surfaces of the at sides 6.

The numerals 9 and II] indicate respectively inner and outer casing gripping plates, between whichV the portions 6 of the casing are disposed. The plates at their outer portions are dished or flanged, as indicated at II, and these flanges are oppositely directed in the assembled structure, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The plate I0 is provided with a central opening' I 2 and surrounding this opening are bolt holes I3, while the plate 9 is formed to provide a hub portion I4 which is formed to have two diameters whereby a pair of shoulders I5 and I6 is obtained. The portion of the hub I4 which is of smaller diameter extends through and fits snugly in the opening I2 of the outer plate and the edges of the openings 'I of the casing, when the portions 6 thereof are brought into abutting relation in the manner shown in Fig. 1, engage the shoulder I5. When the plates 9 and I0 have been brought into side-by-side relation with the portions IiV of the tire casing compressed therebetween, they are held in this manner by the bolts I1, each of which is fixed at one end in the hub I4 between the shoulders I5 and I6, to extend parallel with the axis of the wheel. The outer end of the hub portion I4 has the inwardly turned'flange I8 in which bolt openings I9 are formed for the purpose hereinafter described.

The tire casing engaging and clamping plates 9 and I9 are disposed between the inner and outer compressingplates 20 and 2l respectively. The inner plate 29 has a hub portion 22 which is interiorly tapered to conform with the exterior configuration of the part 3 of the wheel drum upon which it is mounted, while the outside is of cylindrical form. The free end of the hub 22 has the threaded bolts 23 tapped thereinto and extending therefrom parallel with the axis of the wheel, while the body of the plate 29 adjacent the hub is provided with bolt openings 24 through which bolts 25 are passedinto the body of the drum 2 to secure the plate 20 thereto.

As shown in Fig. 1, the plate 2l)` is disposed be-V tween the drum 2 of the wheel andthe casing engaging plate 9 and the portion of the hub I4 of the plate 9 which is of smaller diameter, snugly receives the hub 22, so that the flange I8 abuts the outer end of the hub 22 and the bolts 23 extend through the openings I9 of 'this flange and receive securing nuts 26 which hold the two plates in assembled relation.

i The outer clamping plate 2| is dished, and when in assembled relation with the other parts 0f the wheel has its concave face in opposed relation with the plate I 0. central inset annular portion 21 which terminates in the inwardly directed flange 28 which has bolt openings 29 therethrough thus forming a circular recess 30 which faces or is directed'outwardly from the wheel. The bolt openings 29 of the flange 28 receive the outer ends of the bolts I1 by which the plates 9 and I0 are coupled, and

nuts 3| are placed on these bolts to draw the plates 9 and IIJV` together, and otherV nuts 32 are AVplaced on the outer ends of thebolts I1 to draw the flange portion 28 of the plate 2| inwardly so that its periphery which is slightly broadened to'form a shoe 33, will be drawn in tightly against the face of the outwardly directed flange II of the plate I0. As shown in Fig. 1, theV inner clamping plate 20 also has its periphery broadened to form a wide contacting surface as indicated at 34, and this surface engages the convex surface of the portion I.I of' the inner casing securing plate 9.

Within the recess 30 of the plate 2I resilient clamping fingers 35 are secured to the inwardly directed wall portion 21. These resilient fingers coact with the circular cover plate 39, to retain the latter in position over the recess 30 by receiving between them and the adjacent wall 21 the inwardly turned lip 38 on the coverplate 36.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that all of the p-arts of the vehicle structure with the exception of the plate 29, may be kept assembled for application to the vehicle axle. The plate 29 will remain in position and secured to the drum 2 and when the wheel is to be taken off for repair or other purposes, it is merely necessary to remove the nuts 26 so as to release the connectionbetween the end of the hub 22 and the flange I8 of the plate 9. It will be apparent, ofV

This plate 2l has the the nuts carried thereby, and the end of the axle I.

Upon the outside of the casing, the wall thereof adjacent the point where it merges into the tapered part 6, is provided with a passage 39 through which a valve stem 40 extends. This stem has upon its inner end the plate 4I which contacts with the inner surface of the casing and a portion of its outer end is angularly extended, as indicated at 42, for extension through the curved clamping plate 2|. Adjacent the point of connection between the body 49 of the valve stem and the angular portion 42, the body has screw-threads for the reception of a clamping nut 43 and a locking nut 44, the clamping nut being merely for compressing the portion of the casing lying between it and the plate 4I at-` the inner end of. the valve stem, and the locking nut 44 being provided to prevent the clamping nut from moving from position after it has been set. The. inner surface of they plate IIJ. is provided with a recess 45 suitable. to. receive. the clamping nut. 43and the locking nut 4.4, and the angular portion. 42 of the stein carries a washer 46 and a cone-'shaped body ofv rubber 41 which abuts against thewasher and which wedges into the aperture in. the plate 2l through which the end ofl the stem extends. This body 41 serves as a means for preventing moisture and other matter 'entering the interior of the wheel.

By makingthe inner surfaces of the portion 6 of the casing with av coating of soft rubber, it will be apparent that the bringing together of these portions will effect: the compression of this lining material so that leakage of airpfrom the casing cannot occur.A Also the coating of the interiorv portion of the'casing adjacent the tread will provide material which will close up any small openings which may be formed in the event of a puncture.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a tire constructed in accordance with the present invention eliminates the expense of using inner tubes such as are necessary with wheels of the type at present in use, and also in the event of the formation of an opening vor hole in the casing of too great a size for the soft rubber lining material to close, the interior of the casing can be easily reached for the application of a patch which will be rmly held in position by the air pressure therein when the casing is again put intoI use.

It will also be apparent vthat when this tire gets flat, it will not come off of the rim, as the v' present-day type of tire frequently does, particularly whenl the flat. occurs while the wheel is rotating at a high speed.

What I claim, is:

1. In a pneumatic wheel, a circular hollow casing having spaced side walls and a central opening, a pair of inner plates having the central part of the casing therebetween, one of said plates having a portion extending thru said opening and secured to the other plate, a pair ofl outer plates having the inner plates and tire therebetweenv and secured thereto at the center of the wheel, one of said outer plates having a hub extending through the extended portion of the said one Vof the first plates, and av valve stem carried by the casing and extending thru an adjacent two of the inner and outer plates.

2. In a pneumatic wheel, an air casing of annular design, opposed plate members having the `member and passing thru the casing, said hub having two different exterior circumferential surfaces joined by a radially directed portion, said other plate vopposing and being secured to said portion, said plates each having a peripheral portion flared outwardly away from the casing, valve means for introducing air into the casing, and means secured in said hub facilitating mounting the wheel upon an axle.

3. In a pnematic wheel, an air casing of annular design, 4opposed plate members having theV central portion of the casing therebetween, a hub formed integrally with one Yplate and passing thru the casing and the other plate and secured to the latter, a second pair of plate members having said first members therebetween..and each having its peripheral edge in abutting relation with the adjacent plate, a hub forming a part of a plate ofthe second pair and extending thru the first hub, means securing the hubs together, means securing the other plate of said second pair to the plate ofthe first pair adjacent thereto, said second mentioned hub being designed to receive an axle, and means for introducing air into the casing.

ing and having two external encircling shoulders Y against one of which the edges of the wall opening abut and against the 'other of which the edge of the-plate opening abuts, means securing the apertured plate to the hub to compress the casing walls between the plates, means facilitating the mounting of said hub on an axle, and means for introducing air into the casing.

5. In a pneumatic wheel, an air casing comprising a hollow circular body having a transversely rounded periphery and spaced side walls each of which has a central opening, a pair of opposed plates having said side walls therebetween, one of said plates having a central opening, a hub upon the other plate extending thru the said tire wall openings and the plate opening and-having two external encircling shoulders against one of which the edges of the wall opening abut and against the other of which the edge of, the plate opening abuts, means securing the apertured plate tothe hub to compress the casing walls between the plates, means facilitating the mounting of said hub on an axle, and means for introducing air into the casing, a second pair of plates having said first plates therebetween, each of said first plates having an outwardly curved peripheral portion substantially conforming to a portion of the curvature of the casing, each of the second mentioned plates having its edge contacting the outer concave face of a said outwardly curved portion, one of the second pair of plates having a hub extending through and secured to the rst hub and designed to receive an axle, the other of the second pair of plates being secured to an adjacent one of the first plates, and means carried by the last mentioned plate of the first pair for covering the securing means between the plates and the hubs and axle.

6. A pneumatic wheel, comprising a hollow circular casing body having spaced side walls each having a central opening therethrough, a pair of plates having said side walls therebetween, one of said plates having a tubular hub portion extending through the side wall openings and extericrly formed to provide two concentric surfaces of different circumferences, the surface of smaller circumference being at the free end of the hub and extending through the center of the other plate, the two circumferential surfaces being joined by a wall, securing means between the said other plate and said wall, means adapting said hub to an axle, a disc overlying and concentric with the said other plate and having a central opening receiving the said free end ofthe hub, said securing means also securing said disc Vrelative to the adjacent plate, valve means for the body, and a cover plate detachably secured over the center of, said disc over said securing means and the end of the hub.

7 A pneumatic wheel, comprising a hollow circular casing body having spaced side walls each having a central opening therethrouglna pair of plate members disposed with said side walls compressed therebetween, one of said plate members having a central opening, a tubular hub integral with the other plate member and having a portion adjacent the plate of an interior and exterior circumference greater than the portion at the outer end of the hub, the two portions of the hub being joined by a radial wall and the said outer portion of the hub being extended through the opening of the first mentioned plate, bolt means connecting the-first mentioned plate with said radial wall, `a second pair of plates having the first mentioned plates therebetween and having their peripheral edges in contact with the adjacent ones of the first mentioned plates, a hub formed integral with one of the second mentioned plates and having an end extending into and snugly fitting the smaller outer end portion of the first mentioned hub, the hub of said second mentioned plate being formed to receive anaxle, the other one of said second mentioned pair of plates having an inpressed circular portion provided with a central aperture receiving the outer end of, the first mentioned hub and secured thereto by said bolt means, means coupling the ends of said hubs together, a plate member removably positioned from and closing the' depressed area of the said other one of the second mentioned plates, and valve means for introducing air into the casing.

MILO O. WHITED. 

